What’s a positive habit you’ve developed during the pandemic? What Chicagoans told us.

Reading more. Weekly family Zooms. More walks. Learning Spanish. But maybe the most amazing answer was from a woman who improved her diet and lost 92 pounds.

SHARE What’s a positive habit you’ve developed during the pandemic? What Chicagoans told us.
It’s harder to do a lot of things these days, but that hasn’t kept some of us from being more diligent about getting outdoors and walking more.

It’s harder to do a lot of things these days, but that hasn’t kept some of us from being more diligent about getting outdoors and walking more.

Pat Nabong / Sun-Times

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, our routines have changed in countless ways. We asked readers to tell us about any good habits to deal with that. Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Reading. I use the 90 minutes of commuting time I save by not driving to work to read. I’ve read more books in the last 11 months than I had read in the previous four years.” — Ed Ader

“Learning how to be comfortable with yourself alone a lot of the time during this pandemic. And longing for everything and everybody we so took for granted before this virus hit.” — Angela Aquino-Fanella

My sister, mom, stepmom and I started having Zoom ‘meetings’ every Sunday during the lockdown. We have continued every Sunday since. It is the highlight of my week!” — Amy Brennan

“Getting up at 5:30 to drink coffee and watch an episode of ‘Star Trek’ with my husband before setting forth on the day’s adventures.” — Carolyn Bowes

“I FaceTime and talk to my parents way more regularly.” — Kristyn Ivey

Walking outside in the winter. Forty minutes today. Actually quite nice.” — Colleen Sherburne

“Realizing that I have to work on myself. When the pandemic struck, I was told I need to quarantine because of my heart, and I couldn’t catch COVID-19, or it would be dangerous. So I started to eat low-carb, high-protein, and I have lost 92 pounds, and my cholesterol and sugars have come down to normal. I have an [echocardiogram] in April, so I am praying for some good results.” — Julie Ann

Learning Spanish and walking outside daily!” — Stacey Lea

“With almost my whole work department being at home, I learned to do other tasks around the office outside of my regular job.” — Cheri Weeks

“Avoiding family reunions.” — John Hefner

“Cooking for myself more — no going out to eat every night!” — Lynne Lapierre

“No more road rage during my commute to work, smooth sailing now with the 10-foot walk to my desk at home!” — Dolly Minghi Hoffer

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